A sacred walk this morning after coffee inside. It was raining when I got up, but cleared by the time I walked down the driveway and along my usual country roads. August walks on Saturdays and Sundays around here are as silent as they can get. Today there were few cars, no leaf blowers or lawn mowers, and no dogs from open car windows yipping at me. A golden retriever, however, bounded to the edge of his property to greet me, but I put him in the category of offering hospitality. He was followed by his three owners, ages four, six, and eight, who wanted to chat. Maybe I equate silence with kindness, and not define it as the absence of noise.